Signaling device and system

Abstract

An electronic signaling device and a loop system incorporating at least one of the devices is described. The device is powered by the loop current and voltage and includes circuitry which enables it to function both in the mode where loop current is interrupted and when it is not. Each device has its own unique ID which is interrogated by the circuitry and which includes further circuitry for interrupting the loop current so that the unique ID can be transmitted to a remote location. Circuitry is provided to determine whether or not other loop activity is taking place before the device transmits its ID. Pause circuitry is provided to create distinguishable intervals between each digit of the ID and between each, successive transmission of a complete ID. Shut down circuitry is provided to return the device to its quiescent state after it has transmitted its ID or when an anomaly occurs.

1. An electronic signaling device for transmitting an ID unique to said signaling device when said signaling device is activated from a quiescent state to an active state, said signaling device adapted for placement in a loop circuit wherein the loop circuit has a predetermined loop current and voltage, the loop circuit including means for transmitting to a remote location an indication of the periodic interruption of the flow of the predetermined loop current in the loop circuit at least when said electronic signaling device is transmitting its unique ID, whereby responsive to the periodic interruption of the flow of predetermined loop current being a function of the electronic signaling device's ID, the remote location including means responsive to said indication can identify the particular electronic signaling device resulting in the periodic interruption of the flow of the predetermined loop current, the electronic signaling device comprising:
 (a) activation circuit means responsive to the activation of said electronic signaling device by an operator; 
 (b) closed-loop emulation power supply circuit means for powering said electronic signaling device when there is no interruption of the loop current, said closed-loop emulation power supply circuit means powered by said predetermined loop current and voltage; 
 (c) open-loop emulation power supply circuit means for powering said electronic signaling device after said activation responsive circuit means is activated by an operator, and when there is an interruption of the loop current, said open-loop emulation power supply circuit means powered by said predetermined loop current and voltage; 
 (d) activity sensing circuit means for monitoring whether the interruption of the flow of the loop current is due to an activity occurring elsewhere in the loop and not the result of the activation of said electronic signaling device by an operator; 
 (e) system clock circuit means responsive to said activity sensing circuit means whereby said system clock circuit means begins to control the transmission of the unique ID of said electronic signaling device in response to a start signal occurring after said activity sensing circuit means determines that the interruption of the flow of the loop current elsewhere in the loop has not occurred for a predetermined first period of time; 
 (f) means for setting individual digits of said unique ID for said electronic signaling device, said unique ID comprising at least two individual digits of respective value; 
 (g) circuit means adapted to interrogate said means for setting said unique ID to successively determine each of said at least two digits; 
 (h) loop switching circuit means responsive to said circuit means adapted to interrogate, whereby the loop circuit is sequentially opened and closed such that the loop current is interrupted or not, said sequential opening and closing of the loop circuit proportionally representative of the respective values of said at least two individual digits; 
 (i) first pause circuit means adapted to introduce a first time interval between the successive determination of each of said at least two digits, whereby the respective value of each of said at least two digits can be distinguished by the remote location; and, 
 (j) circuit shut down means adapted to respond to a determination that the electronic signaling device has ended the transmission of its unique ID, whereby said circuit shut down means returns said electronic signaling device to the quiescent state. 
 
   
   
     2. The electronic signaling device claimed in  claim 1  further comprising second pause circuit means adapted to determine when the electronic signaling device has ended transmitting its unique ID whereby said second pause circuit means is adapted to direct said circuit means adapted to interrogate to repeat the interrogation of said means for setting said unique ID at least one additional time. 
   
   
     3. The electronic signaling device claimed in  claim 2  wherein said circuit means adapted to interrogate is directed by said second pause circuit means to repeat the interrogation of said means for setting said unique ID two additional times. 
   
   
     4. The electronic signaling device claimed in  claim 1  further comprising second circuit shut down means adapted to return said electronic signaling device to the quiescent state after an extended time delay of predetermined length, said extended time delay indicative of an abnormal event occurring in said electronic signaling device. 
   
   
     5. A signaling system comprising two or more signaling devices, at least one of which of said two or more signaling devices is an electronic signaling device, each of said two or more signaling devices adapted to transmit an ID unique to each said signaling device when said signaling device is activated from a quiescent state to an active state, each said signaling device adapted for placement in a loop circuit wherein the loop circuit has a predetermined loop current and voltage, the loop circuit including means for transmitting to a remote location an indication of the periodic interruption of the flow of the predetermined loop current in the loop circuit at least when each of said signaling devices is transmitting its unique ID, whereby responsive to the periodic interruption of the flow of predetermined loop current being a function of the signaling device's ID, the remote location including means responsive to said indication, can identify the particular signaling device resulting in the periodic interruption of the flow of the predetermined loop current, each of said at least one electronic signaling device comprising:
 (a) activation circuit means responsive to the activation of said electronic signaling device by an operator; 
 (b) closed-loop emulation power supply circuit means for powering each said electronic signaling device when there is no interruption of the loop current, said closed-loop emulation power supply circuit means powered by said predetermined loop current and voltage; 
 (c) open-loop emulation power supply circuit means for powering each said electronic signaling device after said activation responsive circuit means is activated by an operator, and when there is an interruption of the loop current, said open-loop emulation power supply circuit means powered by said predetermined loop current and voltage; 
 (d) activity sensing circuit means for monitoring whether the interruption of the flow of the loop current is due to an activity occurring elsewhere in the loop and not the result of the activation of each said electronic signaling device by an operator; 
 (e) system clock circuit means responsive to said activity sensing circuit means whereby said system clock circuit means begins to control the transmission of the unique ID of each said electronic signaling device in response to a start signal occurring after said activity sensing circuit means determines that the interruption of the flow of the loop current elsewhere in the loop has not occurred for a predetermined first period of time; 
 (f) means for setting individual digits of said unique ID for each said electronic signaling device, said unique ID comprising at least two individual digits of respective value; 
 (g) circuit means adapted to interrogate said means for setting said unique ID to successively determine each of said at least two digits; 
 (h) loop switching circuit means responsive to said circuit means adapted to interrogate, whereby the loop circuit is sequentially opened and closed such that the loop current is interrupted or not, said sequential opening and closing of the loop circuit proportionally representative of the respective values of said at least two individual digits; 
 (i) first pause circuit means adapted to introduce a first time interval between the successive determination of each of said at least two digits, whereby the respective value of each of said at least two digits can be distinguished by the remote location; and, 
 (j) circuit shut down means adapted to respond to a determination that each said electronic signaling device has ending the transmission of its unique ID, whereby said circuit shut down means returns each said electronic signaling device to the quiescent state. 
 
   
   
     6. The signaling system claimed in  claim 5  wherein each said electronic signaling device further comprises second pause circuit means adapted to determine when the electronic signaling device has ended transmitting its unique ID whereby said second pause circuit means is adapted to direct said circuit means adapted to interrogate to repeat the interrogation of said means for setting said unique ID at least one additional time. 
   
   
     7. The signaling system claimed in  claim 6  wherein said circuit means adapted to interrogate of each said electronic signaling device is directed by said second pause circuit means to repeat the interrogation of said means for setting said unique ID two additional times. 
   
   
     8. The signaling system claimed in  claim 5  wherein each said electronic signaling device further comprises second circuit shut down means adapted to return said respective electronic signaling device to the quiescent state after an extended time delay of predetermined length, said extended time delay indicative of an abnormal event occurring in said electronic signaling device. 
   
   
     9. The signaling system claimed in  claim 5  wherein at least two or more of said signaling devices are electronic signaling devices and wherein said two or more electronic signaling devices are physically stacked, one upon the other, each of said two or more electronic signaling devices placed in a different, respective loop circuit, and wherein at least all of said stacked electronic signaling devices above the bottom one in the stack, including an uppermost electronic signaling device, includes photo responsive electronic component means, all of said loop circuits to be interrupted if one said loop circuit is interrupted by its respective activated electronic signaling device, the uppermost electronic signaling device providing a visual indication of the interruption of said all of said loop circuits through the cooperative interaction between the photo responsive electronic component means in each adjacent, stacked electronic signaling device.